July’s webinar summary: Tips for creating engaging and impactful research.

One month ago, on the 20th of July, the EFPSA Research Programme successfully launched its inaugural webinar. The emphasis of the event was on project management, offering a comprehensive overview of the entire process from the genesis of an idea to the eventual publication of a paper. Around 30 individuals with an interest in the topic attended the event. It can undoubtedly be deemed a great success! Here you can find the main issues raised during the lecture by our speaker, Krzysztof Basiński, Ph.D.

How to write a successful paper? Here are 4 main points worth remembering:

• – Discovering your passion

• – Significance

• – Collaboration

• – Opportunities nearby

1. Discovering Your Passion: Why Does Pursuing What Interest You Lead To Success?

Exploring one’s passions is crucial to achieving success in life. By dedicating time and energy to something you truly enjoy, you can unlock your full potential and achieve great things. While working on something you like, your internal motivation is boosted and thus, you spend more time exploring the topic and seeking answers on your own. Engaging in activities that spark your curiosity and passion holds the potential to ignite your imagination, paving the way for the generation of exceptional and innovative ideas. Regardless of what your passion is, pursuing what excites you can lead to a fulfilling and rewarding life. You never know, it just might lead you to success beyond your wildest imagination. So do not be afraid to explore your passions and chase your dreams, never forget that there is nothing wrong in changing your career path. If you find something you like, just give it a try. It’s a journey worth exploring.

2. Significance: Why Is It Important To Work On Something Meaningful?

Science is founded by people and the people that fund scientists are concerned about particular topics. When seeking funding for research, it is important to keep in mind that government agencies are often the primary source of funding. It is easier to secure funds for projects that are considered valuable and worthwhile by the majority of people. Secondly, people want change. Research with potential practical applications has better chances of sponsorship than theoretical ones. Last but not least, the more impact your work has on the world around you, the better. The truth is that, at the end of the day, this is what gets you the Ph.D. spot or a job of your dreams. 

3. Collaboration: Why Working With Others Leads To Better Results

The key note to remember is that SCIENCE IS NOT MADE INDIVIDUALLY. Collaboration and teamwork are crucial components of the scientific process, as individuals with diverse expertise and perspectives can contribute to the advancement of research. The exchange of ideas and the sharing of resources among scientists also lead to more comprehensive and accurate results. Therefore, it is essential for scientists to work together to achieve their goals and make meaningful contributions to their fields. It is very hard to do science on your own, for example, you often encounter hard decisions and challenges that surpass your competence. Of course, by working independently, you gain the invaluable experience needed for example for your Ph.D., but at the same time, you are very likely to fail, miss something important, or not finish the research. Collaboration with others expands not only your knowledge but also the needed experience.

4. Opportunities in Your Own Backyard: Why Networking Locally Can Help Propel Your Career

As in our lives, balance in research is crucial for its success. If you are interested in field A but no one else is interested in it, you need to look around! As we mentioned before, it is hard to do science on your own. You need to think about what is going on in your universities, what is interesting for people in your local area, and what can bring you money and public attention. So if you are stuck with your research in field A, find a group of scientists interested in field B. Ask them if you can join their work, learn, develop your skills, and get experience that might be helpful for your own research. If you want to learn something, it is better to learn it from someone than from a book!

Guiding the Next Generation: The Importance of Mentoring in Career Development

If you are an early career researcher, the most important thing for you is who is going to be your mentor. The right mentorship gives you guidance and best practices – if you do not know what to do or you are stuck in your research, the mentor will give you a straightforward answer – this way you do not have to waste your time trying different options. What is more, a mentor reduces your uncertainty which causes you lots of stress and negative feelings. Mentoring also gives you connections and networking which are sometimes crucial for a PhD spot or having your article published in a meaningful journal. This is really important because of the support and help that you can receive from other scientists. 

Remember that you do not necessarily have to have only one mentor. A well-functioning group is where knowledge is shared in both directions: from less experienced to more experienced ones and vice versa. It is always a good idea to seek inspiration from various sources and develop your own unique style. After all, you do not want to end up as a copy of someone else, right? However, while seeking connections and knowledge within different groups of scientists, you want to avoid places where people are envious of your success. Try and figure it out by asking people around you in your university for some recommendations on their experience of working with someone that you have your eye on.

Embrace Your Mistakes and Limitations: A Guide to Successfully Finishing Your Research

The journey of doing science is not always easy. What is more, I think most of us would agree that it is challenging and hard. It is important to remember that your initial research may not yield significant results. However, these early attempts are the most important ones for your future career as a researcher. To start, it is best to work on something short and easy for a maximum of 3 months. Then, fail and embrace the failure. Think of it as a test trial where you do not have experience yet. After all, you do not want to lose 2 or 3 years on a study you are going to laugh at in the future. Once you learn from your mistakes, move to a longer study. Let’s say 6 months. Do not be discouraged if you fail again, but make sure to avoid the mistakes from your previous attempt. Repeat this process and fail again. You may end up with a few failed projects, but you will finish them and learn valuable lessons along the way. Make sure to mention all of your mistakes and limitations in your articles – in the end, being honest with yourself and others is what makes you a good researcher. Finally, keep in mind that you really want to publish your work and be as good as possible. It is more important to work on the quality of your research than on the quantity of your published papers or the length of your study. Remember that it is very difficult to write a good article and with every single written one, you learn and experience more.